Texting has become a huge item of concern for many in the world. Not only are people getting into car crashes and so on, they are also getting into fights. In Deerfield Beach, Florida a 15-year-old was beaten within inches of her life on March 17, 2010. Josie Lou Ratley was beaten because ‘a text message dispute between Ratley and the suspect’. The boy who did the beating is Wayne Treacy, also 15 years old. The third person involved is a young girl, 13 years old, who appears to be in a relationship with Wayne.
Josie’s 13 year old friend and Wayne were in a relationship but since the young girl did not have a phone, Wayne got in touch with her through Josie. Wayne sent a message seeking to ‘hook up’ but Josie sent a text back objecting their relationship and that is how the fight started. The text message that Josie sent that seems to have triggered Wayne contained a comment about his brother that had committed suicide. Wayne rode his bike almost three miles to the school and the young 13 year old helped him find Josie by directing him to her and pointing her out. Wayne and Josie barely knew each other and he did not know what she even looked like until his girlfriend pointed her out.
Josie is still in the hospital fighting for her life after being beaten so badly. Wayne is being held at a juvenile detention center and the 13 year old is being charged as an accessory. The young boy is awaiting a decision of whether he will be charged as an adult or not, the court date is set for March 26. He is being charged with premeditated attempted murder.
The media is really covering this story and getting the information out there to the public as fast as they can. This incident has also brought up information about the past of this same middle school where a teenage boy was set on fire just last year.
Texting has been a huge problem lately, with people texting while they drive, are in class, and crossing roads. People are putting their lives as well as others at risk when doing some of their everyday activities.
One thing that I disagree on with this article however is that it focus’ a lot on the texting. I see where the message was sent and received, but I would not blame the whole incident on the use of texting. The real problem, I believe, is how kids are being raised and how they are being watched. What happened to the world that believed in never hitting a women or girl? Where do we need to draw the line? Are kids getting to roam free to early in life, are they not being watched like they should, should we take away cell phones? All these questions can be looked at and answered in different ways, but I think that something needs to change.
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I agree with this blog completely I could not have said it better. All these problems with kids now. I believe we have to most of the blame on the partents. When parents were a lot strikter boys never hit girls, but now that partents don't care all kids are a lot more violent. Texting in other areas such as driving and crossing roads is very dangerous. Everyone knows this and everyone thinks they are so skilled and can do both at the same time, but when they find out that they really can't it's too late. What is a person to do in a world of technology. We cannot take the phones away because people wont just do that. So how do we cope with technology getting in the way of everyday things.
ReplyDeleteI feel that cell phones are being handed out to children when they are too young. I realize that I grew up when cell phones were just starting to become popular, but I did not have one until I was seventeen years old. I see my cousins today and how young their parents are buying them phones. I think there is a maturity factor that needs to be looked at when parents are buying their kids phones. It is easier to say things in text message than it is in person and that is probably why the whole fight started. I also can’t count the number of times that a text has been misinterpreted, but instead of flying off the handle they should look for a different meaning behind the little message. Overall, I think that kids are getting cell phones when they way to immature to handle having one.
ReplyDeleteI believe that texting has gotten way out of control. But, I don't think this incident in Florida was because of texting. Texting was just the way they got in contact with one another; the kids could have used email or a phone call just as easily. I think the incident should be blamed on the violence in our society today. New movies contain huge fight scenes, and the media is always focusing on fights, shootings, stabbings, and other violent actions. These are showing kids that violence is acceptable in society and that there will be no consequence. What happened to kids just being good and treating everyone like they want to be treated?
ReplyDeleteI agree that texting has got out of hand but i really dont thikn texting was the cuase of the girl getting beaten up. Just because texting was the use of communication doesnt means thats what caused it. That kid obviously had issues and beating up a chick? What does that prove, nothing that kid should get charged as an adult.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good blog. And I agree that the issue should be more focused on the children/fight, and not the texting. For one, what kind of boy, especially that young, beats a girl? Aren't little boys supposed to be afraid of cooties or something? Secondly, where were the adults when this occurred? Thirdly, WHY on earth are thirteen and fourteen year olds getting into such "serious" relationships these days? Along with the texting and even being able to have a phone that young. I think too young of kids are being considered "mature enough" too early on inn life these days.
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